. >> reporter: majority leader harry reid acknowledged democrats were stuck and he, too called for help. >> i have a number of conversations with the president and at this stage, we are not able to make a counteroffer. >> reporter: democrats blamed republicans for a "major setback" when mcconnell suggested chances to social security that would mean that future increases in payments to seniors would be smaller. >> we are not going to have any social security cuts. at this stage, that just doesn't seem appropriate. >> reporter: a number of republican senators backed off, saying they keep social security off the table, but want democrats to do more to reduce the deficit u. >> republicans don't want to see new revenues, in other words, democrat tax increases, be used for new spending. and so that's sort of where where many of our members are drawing the line right now. >> reporter: i asked about the role of vice president biden and i'm told that it's sort of good cop, bad cop. if mcconnell would prefer to talk to the vice president, democrats say they are fine with that. there is still sign